The Rundown

Liberals Regroup After Public Option Defeat

By Ben Pershing
An outcome that had been expected for weeks still generated a good deal of drama and post-game analysis, as Tuesday's defeat of efforts to add the public insurance option to the Senate Finance Committee's health-care bill pushed the reform debate into a new stage.

The Finance panel rejected successive amendments from Jay Rockefeller and Chuck Schumer to create a public option, "dealing a crippling blow to the hopes of liberals seeking to expand the federal role in health coverage as a cornerstone of reform," the Washington Post writes. Max Baucus said he wants "a bill that can become law" and did not see enough support for the public option to get it through the Senate. Schumer agreed, for now: "We don't have the 60 votes on the floor for the public option. I will be the first to admit that." The Los Angeles Times reports: "It was the biggest setback to date for liberal Democrats, but did not kill the possibility of a public option being included in final legislation," Public option supporters will get several more bites at the apple: They can offer more amendments on the Senate floor (assuming, as most observers do, that Harry Reid will not include this element in the chamber's combined bill). Or they can fight for it during conference negotiations, since the House is still expected to include some form of public plan in its bill.

Comments

"It appears that these individuals do not mind spending other people's money, so let the government take a lot ot heir money!"

Posted by: mwhoke | October 1, 2009 7:51 AM

"other people's money?"

That's all the money the neocon predator class possesses. Most of the money held by those who should be taxed more is money they kept by refusing to pay their employees properly.
Tax the hell out of them! They're lucky not to be in jail.

Posted by: rooster54 | October 1, 2009 8:28 AM

If the Democrats demand a public option in the Health Bill then it should be paid for by taxing the trust funds of the super rich like John Kerry, Jay Rockerfeller, Kennedy family, Herbert Kohl, Russ Fiengold.

It appears that these individuals do not mind spending other people's money, so let the government take a lot ot heir money!

Posted by: mwhoke | October 1, 2009 7:51 AM

The Repulican Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American insurance industry.
The American insurance industry would love to take your money and give you nothing in return.
Democrats who are interested in selling their souls are encouraged to call their local insurance lobbyists.
Thank you for supporting capital murder paid for by insurance executives with your premium money.
Bye now, and remember to die soon so insurers can keep more of your money.

Posted by: rooster54 | September 30, 2009 6:51 PM

New York Times/CBS News Poll: Confusion Over Health Care

57. Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan — something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get — that would compete with private health insurance plans?

-------------------------Favor--------Oppose-----------DK/NA

6/12-16/09-------------72--------------20------------------7

7/9-12/09 CBS--------64---------------29-----------------7

7/24-28/09-------------66---------------27-----------------7

8/27-31/09 CBS-------60---------------34----------------6

9/19-23/09-------------65---------------26----------------9

67. Many Republican members of Congress oppose the Obama Administration's plans for changing the health care system. Do you think they oppose these plans mostly because they think they are bad for the country or mostly for political reasons? QUESTIONS 67 AND 68 WERE ROTATED.

----------------Bad for the country---Political reasons---Both (vol.)----DK/NA

People were ignored during the bailouts and democrats are paying a political price.

Baucus is trying to eliminated debate. The whole purpose of debate is to persuade other members of the Senate. Baucus is saying he doesn't want anybody persuaded. He's putting the cart before the horse.

Who put Baucus in this role, anyway?

Screw Baucus. Go for the reconciliation if necessary. That's the way the neocons did it for Welfare deform.

People deserve a government that works for them, not for private interests. This is what they are expressing in a majority and too many Democrats, and all Republicans are ignoring it.

Democrats may kill the geese that's been laying their golden eggs.

Posted by: owldog | September 30, 2009 5:25 PM

Just keep writing those letters to your Congress !!! It works!!
Ready for TERM LIMITS anyone?

Posted by: SeniorVet | September 30, 2009 2:30 PM

Who do you believe Congress is listening to, when it come to Health Care Reform?

..."Well I too sent Jay Rockafella a letter as well, and told him to "GIVEM HELL!

..."WE/Democrats will pass Universal Health Care with the Public Option.

..."WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT!

Posted by: ztcb41 | September 30, 2009 10:22 AM

My wife, a psychotherapist and liberal democrat, just casually told me she sent a letter to Jay Rockefeller because he wants to eliminate her HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

I lobbied her several years ago to set up a small one.

It's grown, and she uses it 'liberally' for all kinds of health care expenses that aren't covered by her health insurance...she loves having this dedicated fund for all kinds of service and other purchases.

I was floored when she placed her HSA above her loyalty to the DEM's and opposed ROCKEFELLER with a letter!

...where's there's smoke, there's fire..your job WAPO is to find the fire in W.Virginia and fan the flames until we burn out that liberal pest, Jay Rockefeller(D).

Posted by: Common_Cents1 | September 30, 2009 10:00 AM

WE HAVE TO MANY COWARDS IN THE SENATE. VOTE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
NOT LOBBIST,SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS,
VOTE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!VOTE NOW FOR THE POOR TAXPAYER, THE HARD WORKING AMERICAN AND STUDENTS WHO WILL BE THE FUTURE.

Posted by: theoldmansays | September 30, 2009 9:59 AM

I work for a health insurance company. I am not in management, I work in the computer department. You would not believe the hoops we have to jump through to comply with all the government regulations. States require insurers to cover abortions, and we have to cover in-vitro fertilization. You can actually get pregnant using in-vitro, and then decide to abort the fetus and it's all covered!!
Want to go to a chiropractor 5 times a week, - no problem! You want every drug ever invented? No problem! Just get your doctor (who is bribed by the drug companies) to prescribe it for you. It's covered!! And you think it's the insurance companies who keep costs high?
You want to be covered even though you have a pre-existing condition? Will Geico pay to fix your car even if it got wrecked before you bought the policy?
The government's going to create a "public option" to keep the insurance companies honest?? Who's gonna keep the government honest, ACORN???!!!

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